I'm just a guy with a pension of occasional insanity and the occasion for misadventures in airplanes. I also seem to be an aspiring writer, if I can ever get myself to sit down and write, which, by the way, makes it interesting as to how I'm an aspiring writer considering that I'm also an aspiring engineer. The two aren't supposed to be together.

But please enjoy whatever it is that I ramble about whether it be sports, news, or just anything that I decide to blog about.

• 9Jul 09

  "United Breaks Guitars"

  Whilst I was surfing the interwebs today, I came across this story about an unlucky musician and how United broke his guitar. Canadian musician Dave Carrol was on his way from where ever, possibly Canada, to Nebraska to play a gig there where he stopped through good ol' Chicago O'Hare (I have so many fond memories of racing through that airport) when he noticed that some United employees were tossing around his guitar outside. Upon reaching Nebraska he found out that his guitar was indeed broken. Sadly, this tale takes a sad turn as United wouldn't give him a claim. That is until he posted that music video found in the link. He got an apology and was asked if that video could be used to help train new employees (how I'm not sure).
  
  I found this more than a little comical as that is what airlines will do to you, that is not be in a helping mood if you're not quick enough. I've had my luggage not join me many a time when coming from Chicago. Denver and Washington seem to do a better job at keeping track of my luggage for some odd reason. Must be that northern climate or something.
  
  Maybe I should write a song about my past troubles...
  • Posted Jul 9, 2009 2:57 pm PT
  • Category: Music
  • 9 Comments
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• 5Jul 09

  The Wimbledon Championships

  The grass courts of the All England Club are the most prestigious Grand Slam of the tennis season. Wimbledon brings forth the fastest playing speed and often requires the best of the best to win it. Just today, Roger Federer lifted the trophy for the sixth time in his career after taking down Andy Roddick in five sets: 5-7; 7-6; 7-6; 3-6; 16-14. No that last set isn't a typo. It was indeed 16-14 culminating in the only break of serve for Federer to capitalize on. Federer now has 15 career slam titles and surpassed Pete Sampras for the most in the men's game. He trails Chris Evert and Margaret Court for third all-time. Yet as much as this is a story for the record books for Federer, it is similarly a story about Andy Roddick.
  
  Roddick, having won only one slam, that being the 2003 US Open, was thought to have been on the decline in the past two years, well past his prime. He had reached three other slam finals, twice at Wimbledon before and once more at the US Open, only to face Federer each time and lose all but one match in straight sets. Entering this year, Roddick found a new coach and got into tremendous shape, losing 15 pounds and hitting that practice court to improve his game. The result has been unbelievable for someone once thought to be in a downward spiral. Roddick reached the semis of the Aussie Open earlier this year, where he also lost to Federer, and made it to the fourth round of the French Open, a personal best, before entering the final of Wimbledon. But this story doesn't have a happy ending. Roddick played near perfect tennis. He had chances to win the second and third sets, but came up short. He was broken only once the entire match, that being for the championship point for Federer. He gave it his all, and you can believe that if Roddick can mentally come back from this shattering loss, he can win another slam. He has that fire, that zeal that made him so good early in his career that he's been missing ever since winning his only slam. Look for him to be back in the running in August.
  
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  Just the previous day, Serena Williams defeated her older sister Venus 7-6; 6-2 to win her 11th career slam and her third Wimbledon title. This marked the eleventh time the sisters have faced each other in a final of a slam. Serena is now 7-4 when facing her sister in the final, and 11-10 overall.
  
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  Wimbledon isn't just all about the winners but is about the stories that form around surprise players.
  
  The men's draw saw a couple of old faces make surprise entrances to the quarters and semis. Former champion Lleyton Hewitt made it to the quarters and showed flashed of his 2002 form when he won the tournament. Hewitt is coming off a terrible hip injury this year and has had to fight through tough matches in each and every tournament. Juan Carlos Ferrero, a French Open champion made it to the quarters as well. Ferrero hasn't had a result like that since 2003 when he reached the finals of both the French and US Open, losing to Roddick in New York. Then there's Tommy Haas, an old vet who has been plagued with injuries throughout his career who made a spirited run to the semis before being swatted away by Federer (really, who doesn't he swat away who's name isn't Nadal?).
  
  On the women's side a young American Michelle Oudin made her debut by reaching the fourth round and knocked off Jelena Jankovic who was none too happy about losing to a young upstart. Oudin was the only other American other than Roddick and the Williams sisters to make it to the second week of the tournament. Jesse Levine was the only other American to make it to the third round in the men's draw.
  
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  The grass court season is over, and now it's time for the heat of the North American US Open hard court series and the final slam of the year in the end of August. Hopefully I can get a chance to catch a few tournaments. If only I can get time off that is.
  • Posted Jul 5, 2009 6:17 pm PT
  • Category: Sports
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• 4Jul 09

  4th of July

  It's the 4th of July and I nearly forgot to wake up in time for work. Don't worry I did. Started at noon.
  
  It was thankfully a slow day, which ended up in me going home early, but there were still people ordering stuff. It's the ****ing 4th of July! Go help relatives in cooking or call up your sons/daughters or do something other than order clothes that aren't in stock anyway! This job does not make you appreciate old people at all. Even more perplexing is my luck with the girls at work. I'll talk about that in a later blog. Although you have to admit it is darkly humorous to hear people say they would never pay $3 for a 1000 page catalog, or pay an extra $5 for a clothing item. It's even worse when people think they're being self important when they mention they're never going to shop JC Penney again. Oh well, not my fault you didn't check your billing statement until it's too late.
  
  In other news, I'll be gearing up to take the GRE, the test needed to get in grad school. Still no luck with jobs, so hopefully grad school will help me out in that market.
  
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  Now my tummy is full of cookie dough and dinner has yet to be made. Ah well. It's a happy fulfillment.
  
  There are apparently going to be fireworks right outside my house. That should be fun.
  
  So again Happy 4th of July!
  • Posted Jul 4, 2009 6:19 pm PT
  • Category: General
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